Guest guest Posted January 27, 2006 Report Share Posted January 27, 2006 Caleb wrote: >> ...It is possible to be >> pro-divine without being anti-human. Dear Caleb ~ by now you have surely seen some of my posts on this topic, "the use of tools" and others. If not, please go to the site and take a look. I believe it is not only possible to be pro-Divine (I'm not exactly sure what that means, actually) without being anti-human (I am pretty sure what that means). And instead of reading all these words, you might just want to skip to the end where I have put the chorus and a verse of a song about this topic. It is so much easier to describe these things in songs or poetry or art. My belief is that some things are quoted without the whole context being included. Also Hinduism recognizes the "Householder" (human) frame of reference within the overall spiritual. I feel I am tripping over my words here. We are human. We are also sparks of the Divine. To discover that Divinity within, certain traditions, both Eastern and Western, have been developed. In some, a person must give up attachments to worldly possessions; in others, a person is encouraged to use his/her life as the petri dish in which to allow the Divine to grow and emerge. Even Amma acknowledges our humanity, as well as Her own in this human form. What is really important? That is the question. How do you get there or find that? That is the other question. My experience has taught me that I assuredly don't get there or discover the Divine Within by hating my own humanity. I was taught the opposite ... I was taught fear and I was taught that everything human about me was bad. To me, this is spirituality turned upside down. One doesn't find the Divine through fear but through love. Swami Satyananda Saraswati wrote something recently, which sounds very much like "do unto others" and "Love yourself as I have Loved you." He wrote there are three important aspects to a spiritual life: Respect of Self Respect of Others Responsibility I don't feel I am answering your question well, especially since I very clearly heard your "need" to feel affirmed in your humanity. Many years ago, after a long struggle with the fear I had been taught, and the "inner beast" I had been taught to fear, I kind of came out of the other side of that. What I felt was more love for myself in my humanity and for others (not ego love, but unconditional love). Out of this experience, I wrote a song for everyone: Be Gentle With Yourself 1. We’ve come a long, long way in a very short time, oh, see how beautiful we are. Wrap the past in moonbeams, release your fear of the night, each one of us is a shining star. Chorus Be gentle with yourself, there’s a place where it’s alright to be who you are. Be gentle with yourself, embrace what’s inside, you’ve been looking for a treasure, something you can’t weigh or measure, looking and looking, but you don’t have to look so hard. ONS ~ Linda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2006 Report Share Posted January 28, 2006 Linda, thank you for the kind and inspiring words and song. Gentleness and laughter, respect and responsibility, in Amma's name. C Ammachi, nierika@a... wrote: > > > Caleb wrote: > > >> ...It is possible to be > >> pro-divine without being anti-human. > > > > Dear Caleb ~ by now you have surely seen some of my posts on this topic, > "the use of tools" and others. If not, please go to the site and take a > look. I believe it is not only possible to be pro-Divine (I'm not exactly sure > what that means, actually) without being anti-human > (I am pretty sure what that means). And instead of reading all these words, > you might just want to skip to the end where I have put the chorus and a verse > of a song about this topic. It is so much easier to describe these things in > songs or poetry or art. > > My belief is that some things are quoted without the whole context being > included. Also Hinduism recognizes the "Householder" (human) frame of reference > within the overall spiritual. I feel I am tripping over my words here. We are > human. We are also sparks of the Divine. To discover that Divinity within, > certain traditions, both Eastern and Western, have been developed. In some, a > person must give up attachments to worldly possessions; in others, a person is > encouraged to use his/her life as the petri dish in which to allow the > Divine to grow and emerge. Even Amma acknowledges our humanity, as well as Her own > in this human form. What is really important? That is the question. How do > you get there or find that? That is the other question. My experience has > taught me that I assuredly don't get there or discover the Divine Within by > hating my own humanity. I was taught the opposite ... > I was taught fear and I was taught that everything human about me was bad. > To me, this is spirituality turned upside down. One doesn't find the Divine > through fear but through love. > > Swami Satyananda Saraswati wrote something recently, which sounds very much > like "do unto others" and "Love yourself as I have Loved you." > > He wrote there are three important aspects to a spiritual life: > Respect of Self > Respect of Others > Responsibility > > I don't feel I am answering your question well, especially since I very > clearly heard your "need" to feel affirmed in your humanity. Many years ago, > after a long struggle with the fear > I had been taught, and the "inner beast" I had been taught to fear, I kind > of came out of the other side of that. What I felt was more love for myself in > my humanity and for others (not ego love, but unconditional love). Out of > this experience, I wrote a song for everyone: > > > Be Gentle With Yourself > 1. > We´ve come a long, long way > in a very short time, > oh, see how beautiful we are. > Wrap the past in moonbeams, > release your fear of the night, > each one of us is a shining star. > Chorus > Be gentle with yourself, > there´s a place > where it´s alright > to be who you are. > Be gentle with yourself, > embrace > what´s inside, > you´ve been looking for a treasure, > something you can´t weigh or measure, > looking and looking, > but you don´t have to look so hard. > ONS ~ Linda > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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